Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 61042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
While everyone else was busy securing Iron, I held Tessa. She shook, head lolling, eyes half-slitted and wild with confusion. Whatever they’d pumped into her kept her body limp but her fear alive. “You’re okay, you’re okay.”
A pair of black dress shoes stopped next to me. I looked up as Tonio Miles knelt next to me looking every inch the mob prince. Which made him kneeling with us all the more unexpected.
He reached out to curl his finger gently under Tessa’s chin. “You did good, Miss Garrison,” he said, voice low. “You stayed alive until your sister found you.”
Tessa looked up at Tonio with slightly unfocused eyes. “You look scary. Like the others.” Her voice slurred, and she looked confused instead of the terrified I thought she had to be. “But… you’re not.”
“No, honey. I’m not like the others.”
“There’s more…” Her voice trailed off as her body tried to succumb to sleep. Tessa forced her eyes open and shook her head slightly. “More women. There’s more.”
“I know. And I’m going to make sure I free any of them still alive. And I’m going to kill everyone involved.”
I stiffened, not wanting him to scare Tessa any more than she had to be already. But to my surprise, Tessa gave him a relieved smile.
“Do you promise?”
“Miss Garrison, I have no honor, so I can’t swear on that. But I will swear to you. I will hunt down every single person responsible for what happened to you. And every one of them will die. That will be my gift to you.”
Tessa lifted her hand weakly, reaching out to Tonio. He took her hand and held it between both of his. She didn’t say anything else and neither did Tonio, but somehow, I thought maybe they understood each other.
Griffin stood up, his chest rising and falling with exertion, his eyes fixed on Iron, who lay defeated on the table. “What’re we gonna do with this bastard?”
“I promised Veda she could have the kill,” Hannah said, meeting Knuckles’ gaze. “I stand by that promise.” Hannah knelt beside Tessa and me, a hand on each of our shoulders, offering silent support in the chaos. Tessa’s gaze stayed steady on Tonio.
I shook my head. “No. I don’t want him alive, but I don’t want to kill anyone else.” I turned to look at Hannah. “Thank you.” The other woman smiled back at me.
Knuckles and Inferno hauled Iron out to a waiting cage where Tonio and his men could deal with the bastard as they saw fit.
Finally, Tonio gave a small, frustrated sigh. “Tessa. Honey.” A single tear slid down Tessa’s cheek, and Tonio scrubbed a hand over his face. “You don’t know me, Tessa.”
“You said you’d kill anyone who did this.” It broke my heart to hear Tessa’s voice so raw and terrified.
“I did.”
“That’s all I need to know.” Tessa’s gaze never wavered from Tonio’s.
“Have you met Tonio before, Tessa?” I didn’t think the man would be the kind of person to hurt women when he’d made getting Tessa back the priority over anything to do with his businesses, but the guy was the aforementioned mafia prince.
Tessa shook her head slowly. “No.”
“She sees me,” Tonio said simply. “Don’t you, Miss Garrison?” When she said nothing further, Tonio continued. “Do you trust me, Tessa?”
“Yes.”
Tonio gave a small, crisp nod, then he turned his attention to Hannah. “Would you mind having a room at Haven prepared for Tessa? She’ll need room for medical equipment. I’ll have some things delivered for her care.”
Knuckles grunted. “You know, once she’s in Haven she’s under our protection. If she doesn’t want to see you, even if you buy the whole fucking compound, we’re not letting you in. Right?”
Tonio smiled. “She’s capable of making her own decisions and I will abide by them. I’m still seeing to her care.”
“As long as we understand each other,” Hannah added.
Tessa looked up at me. “He can stay.”
I didn’t know what to do with that. So I just shrugged. “Well. I guess that means he can stay.”
“Well, shit, boss.” One of the guys with Tonio scrubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “Warn me next time. If I’d known she was yours I’d have already had the doc on the way.”
Tonio shook his head. “Kiss of Death has a doctor they all trust. Pain will take care of Tessa and call me if he needs anything.” Tonio looked at Knuckles. “Yes?”
Knuckles grinned. “I’ll relay the fuckin’ message, Tonio.”
Chapter Seventeen
Veda
No one was more surprised than me when Tessa wouldn’t allow anyone but Tonio to carry her out of the restaurant and to the SUV waiting to take us back to Kiss of Death and Haven. She clung to him, not saying a word, and Tonio, even though Tessa was filthy from her ordeal, didn’t hesitate to wrap his arms around her like she seemed to need. The whole ride, Tessa remained silent and still. She had her eyes closed but I could tell she didn’t sleep.